Why are Air Pollutant Emission Inventories Needed?
Air pollutant emission inventories are fundamental to the identification, evaluation and control of hazards associated with air pollutants. A crucial first step toward reducing air pollutant emissions is identifying the sources and source categories that contribute the most to the emissions. The information provided in emission inventories can also be used to:
- assess health risks due to exposure to air pollutants
- determine where air pollutants end up in the environment
- support air quality modeling
- evaluate possible locations for air pollutant monitoring sites.
Moreover, emission inventories can serve as an indicator of air quality changes. Periodic emission inventories can also measure the effectiveness of regulatory programs designed to reduce pollutant emissions.
The Minnesota air toxics emission inventory is mandated by Minnesota Statutes Chapter 115D.15. The MPCA is required to prepare a biannual report for the Minnesota Environmental and Natural Resources Policy Committees of the Legislature, which provides an update on emission quantities of toxic air contaminants, and an updated list prioritizing and categorizing facilities emitting toxic air contaminants. This emission inventory is also required by the Great Lakes Regional air toxics emission inventory project, which was initiated in the 1986 Toxic Substances Control Agreement among the Governors of the Great Lakes States.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency requests states and local agencies provide estimates of annual emissions of hazardous air pollutants to the National Emission Inventory (NEI) every three years. The Minnesota air toxics emission inventory serves as a basis of the Minnesota portion of the NEI.
